We’ve updated our Terms of Use to reflect our new entity name and address. You can review the changes here.
We’ve updated our Terms of Use. You can review the changes here.
/

  • Streaming + Download

    Includes high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more. Paying supporters also get unlimited streaming via the free Bandcamp app.
    Purchasable with gift card

      name your price

     

  • Buy the Full Digital Album

  • Full Digital Discography

    Get all 3 Michael Occhipinti & The Sicilian Project releases available on Bandcamp and save 35%.

    Includes unlimited streaming via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality downloads of In Orbit (w. Jeff Coffin & Felix Pastorius), Muorica, and The Sicilian Jazz Project. , and , .

    Purchasable with gift card

      $4.55 CAD (35% OFF)

     

about

In recent years I’ve been invited to perform and contribute music to a series of concerts organized by the Gryphon Trio (featuring violinist Annaleee Patapitanakoon and cellist Roman Borys). One of the concerts brought together musicians with backgrounds in classical, jazz, and Arabic music, and they asked me to contribute a Sicilian inspired piece. The Almond Sorters is the piece I created, using Alan Lomax’s recording of a group of women in the town of Avola sorting almonds and singing this tragic narrative as a starting point. The narrative is sung by Maryem Tollar (she, Ernie and Hugh Marsh were also part of the Gryphon Trio concert) before the piece evolves in different ways to feature the various soloists.
Sicilian dialect is very different from common use Italian, and depending on the singer’s voice and annunciation, people can be fooled into thinking the music is African or from the Middle-East (and certainly those influences are in the music and language anyway). Nevertheless, while we did have a singer of Egyptian background singing the Sicilian text, my brother and I were delighted when my uncle Joe heard the recording and asked what part of Sicily Maryem was from.

credits

from The Sicilian Jazz Project, released January 7, 2013
Composer: Traditional/Michael Occhipinti. Maryem Tollar (vocals), Ernie Tollar (saxophone), Hugh Marsh (electric violin), Louis Simao (percussion, accordion), Barry Romberg (drums), Roberto Occhipinti (bass), Annalee Patipatanakoon (violin), Lynn Kuo (violin), Kathleen Kajioka (viola), Roman Borys (cello), Rick Lazar (percussion), Levon Ichkhanian (oud), Michael Occhipinti (guitar).

license

all rights reserved

tags

about

Michael Occhipinti & The Sicilian Project image

Michael Occhipinti & The Sicilian Project Toronto, Ontario

“A triumphant recording on many levels” Michael G. Nastos Billboard

Michael Occhipinti’s Sicilian Jazz Project dazzles audiences with its mix of Sicilian folk & jazz, global grooves, & chamber music, with old world Sicily meeting the global sound of Toronto. The group received a 2009 JUNO Award nomination (Canada’s Grammy) & the prestigious Ragusani nel Mondo Award ... more

contact / help

Contact Michael Occhipinti & The Sicilian Project

Streaming and
Download help

Redeem code

Report this track or account

If you like Michael Occhipinti & The Sicilian Project, you may also like:

Bandcamp Daily  your guide to the world of Bandcamp

On Bandcamp Radio

Featuring Riley Pinkerton (aka The Rat Queen) from the theatrical NYC rockers, Castle Rat.
listen now